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Any other Norwood bandsaw mill owners out there?I love mine and would love to compare notes and tips with other users.I cut a lot of flitches ,spalted wood and yikes! locust.I want to cut some curvy blanks and wondered if anyone else has done this.I figure Ill have to adapt the dog system(weakest part of sawmill) and make some kind of pivoting table to clear the support post.
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Which model do you have? What do and don't you like? Which attachments? Thinking of buying one in a couple of years. Need to figure out how much to save.
Thanks, Scott
*Hey ScottIve got a Mark IV , had it since spring 2000.Didnt know too much about them till I got mine.Friend who has small woodshop had one I was able to check out.Had seen a bunch of Woodmizers but they were too expensive of a tool for my use.I saw just for myself and my neighbors and keep the saw at home.I really didnt know of many other brands until a got a subsc. to Sawmill & Woodlot(www.sawmillmag.com).Theres about 60 types!I still think Norwood is good bang for the buck.Its simply engineered.With the 13hp.Honda its amazingly quiet.(Youre only running full throttle while youre cutting),blades are cheap ..about $13.00.I have capacity for 13' but would be extreemly easy to make it long as you like because the rails are just 1". angle.I think probably the weakest link is the the dog system.But this is probably because alot of times Im cutting short stuff..less than 5' and curved stuff for big slabs and bents.Around here in WV timber is big business and I can can go to tons of jobs where theyll give me any thing under 8'..and im talking big stuff,alot of time butt logs and whacky crotches(stuff they hate and I love).They usually just bulldoze this stuff into a holler.As far as attachments I dont have any but Im still experimenting.I mean like I dont need a $400 lap siding jig...I put one factory piece under the beam which tilts it and presto saw one..take shim out saw one...ect.Anyway if you want pics of my set up or any other questions I happy to oblige..Its one of my favorite toys but then again Im a wood hick at heart surrounded by 3000 acres of hardwood.Ken /[email protected]
*You guys know about that usedsawmills.com, I think it is?Can you post photos of your mill here online, Ken? I'd love to see it. Love those little mills.
*JimHeres some not very good pics of mill.Ill try and get some others together soon.Haven't been able to do much sawing but I've got a monster oak and hickory to get down to the mill before they fall on the house(Ive learned from the last ice storm).Im trying to get some kind uv cart to get the logs down to the mill since skidding down the driveway damages the road too much and fills the log with gravel and dirt.I think its going to be something like a propane tank carrier that has to saddles to crank log off ground.Sawmill@Woodlot is a pretty interesting mag. for about a year.They preview atleast one mill a issue and have contest between them.Any Question feel free to hoot .Where are u?
*Scott/JimHope these come thru .Im a greenie at attachments.
*Came through great, Ken. That thing looks sweet man. What do you do, crank that wheel to advance the saw into the log? I'm jealous. How much have you used it? It kind of looks like debris could get built up on top of that track, any problems with that?I'm in Western Washington. Looks like you're back East, what with all the hardwoods in the photos. Where're you at?
*JimActually they give you these little felt snowplows that attach right in front of the wheels.Your spose to soak them in kero/oil.I just bought a cheap lil' scrub brush and hacked it in 2 and bolted it on.You just push the mill on the track.It glides real easy,one little push and it on it way.When sawing I like being able to feel the blade cutting and can let up for knots or problem areas.I know the sound of metal real good now...can even tell ya the size of the nail...but its the dogs that are real easy to cut since theyre on the back side of the log.Ive probably cut about 4000' feet so far alot of it cherry/ash/maple/oak and poplar.But I will try anything rather than burn it for firewood-sassafas,sumac,locust.I figure atleast half was prime stuff so say at min.$2.00BF ..$4000...bingo its paid for itself.Still learning on milling quirks...when to flip log to relieve stresshow much to slab/how much to resaw.With a new blade I can cut consistant 1/8" brds and I can change a blade in about 4 min.So I use old blades to slab bark off which is where most dulling action is( and old "Posted" sign nails!)I live in S WV at about 3000' on a steep hillside.I laff , people when they sit on my deck are clenching hard on the chairs arm rest!Solar electric house..blah/blah.Build custom homes I design and cabinetwork.Work for alot of trustafarians/amd rebuilding aging hippie houses is a good niche around here.
*What's that little guy weigh, Ken? Can you slide it into the back of a pick up?
*Ken - Nice little rig. What I wouldn't give to have the room and resources to set something like that up. Must be theraputic to saw for an afternoon in the fall.SJ
*Hey jimOnly 600lbs. so yeah I guess you could.I always thought if I wanted to move it I'd just get a car carrier up here and winch her up. I think the trailer package was like another $500-600 but looks kinda rinkydink.SteveYoure right!I never felt yet like I was working when sawing.Every log is like Xmas morning!
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Any other Norwood bandsaw mill owners out there?I love mine and would love to compare notes and tips with other users.I cut a lot of flitches ,spalted wood and yikes! locust.I want to cut some curvy blanks and wondered if anyone else has done this.I figure Ill have to adapt the dog system(weakest part of sawmill) and make some kind of pivoting table to clear the support post.